New 1981 hunger strike documents disclosed

The document said that another attempt should be made to explain the situation to the hunger strickers however, following further discussions "it was drawn to the Prime Minister's attention that any approach of the kind outlined above to the hunger strikers would inevitably become public whether or not it succeeded, the Prime Minister reviewed the proposal on the telephone with the Secretary of State and decided the dangers in taking an initiative would be so great that she was not prepared to risk them.
"The official who went in to the prison could repeat the Government's public position but could go no further."